Meet Emilie Donaldson | Pinterest Virtual Assistant and Cat Behaviourist (Registered Veterinary Nurse)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emilie Donaldson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emilie, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
A work life balance is something that I have only recently become tuned into, for myself, during the last two years or so. I always knew it was there of course, but had never really considered what it meant to me or asked myself the question- do I have my ideal work life balance? My first career was as a Qualified and Registered Veterinary Nurse which I absolutely adored, and also went on to complete a diploma in Feline Nursing and certificate in Zoo Nursing. I then met my partner and this is when I started to ask myself that work life balance question. He had told me early on in our relationship, that his ultimate dream was to own a home in Jersey, where we live and where I am from. I was surprised. Owning a home is definitely an achievement but one that, at that moment, I felt a bit embarrassed to realise I had considered a given in life. The truth is, it can be difficult to save for a house in any part of the world and with Jersey’s housing market, this is likely an impossible dream for a lot of young couples and families here. But I wanted to make it possible for him and for us. I wanted to give him his ultimate dream in life, but it wasn’t going to be easy and would require a significant increase in my income. My income potential as a Veterinary Nurse was limited. I had to create a new source of income, alongside nursing.

I would say that my partner, and his dream to own a home, was definitely the catalyst that set off my journey into entrepreneurship. I feel very lucky that, when exploring ways to increase my income from home, I came across the concept of a becoming a Pinterest VA. I had actually found another genuine passion to build a second career from, in a platform I already loved, and which also gave me the ability to help other entrepreneurs to grow their own businesses. The pride I feel in myself and the passion I have for my businesses is something I want to help others to experience and flourish, for their own businesses and their own work life balance.

After beginning to grow my business in Pinterest Marketing, Covid-19 came along and I think a lot of peoples’ perspectives and mindsets changed in a relatively small period of time; especially surrounding the subject of work life balance. The world, for many has changed and priorities relating to work, life, family and experiences have changed. Shortly after the lockdown in Jersey, I myself, decided to leave the organisation where I was nursing, partly to remove myself from what was a toxic environment for me at the time and partly to create more time for growth of my business. I wanted to see what I could achieve with more time and focus.

It was scary though. As much as a work life balance is often approached from the view point of creating more free time away from work, I believe it is also about making space for the passions you have and I definitely wasn’t ready to sacrifice working with animals; thus, my cat behaviour business was born. Opportunities to work with animals in Jersey in scarce so I created a new business venture from the roots of my nursing career and the passion I have for cats and their care.

A couple years on and I am well on my way toward my ideal work life balance, which I have been working so hard towards. With two flourishing businesses, ‘Emilie Donaldson Cat Behaviourist’ and ‘Pin It to Win It’, I am so excited to look ahead into the future and know that in 6-12 months’ time I will be able to financially survive, solely on income from my own businesses! With an additional two business ventures that are also in the first stages, my creativity, passion and income potential can only grow.

A work life balance means different things to different people and I believe every single person should have the opportunity to explore it for themselves and make it a reality, without judgement or prejudice. During the last two years of exploring what a work life balance means me to me, I can summarise it in three core elements; freedom, potential and family. I have a vision board at home that represents these three core elements; and I highly suggest that everyone try out a vision board one day; they may be surprised as to how positive and powerful it can be to have a visual representation of your dreams and goals in front of you every single day, like a visual cheerleader!

So, this is what my core elements mean for me and how they translate into my ideal work life balance.

First is freedom; the freedom to set my own working hours, to make proper time for my mental and physical health and wellbeing, to work at my most productive time of day, to have mental and spiritual freedom to be creative and use that creativity to help other people.

Second is potential; the potential to break the glass ceiling of my income potential, to work with talented and incredible clients of different niches, to grow and nurture the potential I have for success, to help people further reach their potential in their business; as some incredible women already have for me, and to help people and their feline companions to live harmoniously together.
Last but definitely not least is family; to provide, to be present and engaged with my loved ones, to make space for quality time for myself and my family, to slow down and appreciate everything more, and to be the healthiest me so that they can be the healthiest them.

My entrepreneurial journey started from a dream expressed by my better half, and my subsequent determination to make it possible for us both. Has it happened yet? No, not yet…… but from that small seed of determination and the desire to achieve one dream, has grown the opportunity for me to discover so much about myself and my abilities to push through to something better. The goal is still buying a home and increasing my income, but it’s so much more than that now. It’s knowing I’m close to achieving the work life balance that is right for me; it’s knowing that I am helping people through my passions and it’s appreciating how each opportunity I take in my businesses could give me the chance to help another person, just like me, to achieve their own version of success and work and life balance.

So, on the days where I feel like I can’t do it or that I should give up, I just think about all the people I could help if I don’t give up. I think how amazing it will be to provide an ideal work life balance to myself, my partner and our future children in a way that inspires them, motivates them and teaches them how anything is possible if you focus truly on what you want and work hard to maintain a balance that supports and sustains your passions.

It doesn’t have to be a dream to work part time but take home a full-time salary, or to make money from your passions, or to earn money and still have enough time to spend with your family, or even to own that home you have always wanted…………. The world is changing and the time for you to have your own work life balance, that is true to you and your passions and dreams, is now…………..and it’s really exciting.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am most proud and excited that I have been successful in starting two businesses. It isn’t easy to go it alone and build something without a business partner or colleagues to lean on. I love to work alone the majority of the time, but sometimes it is nice to have someone to bounce ideas off and collaborate with. I think one of my biggest struggles was dealing with imposter syndrome and craving validation that I was moving in the right direction with both my businesses, especially during times of self doubt.

It can be really daunting to self validate and I think a lot of women in particular, feel that this is a very uncomfortable exercise and it can be unnatural almost to put a high value on yourself. This is definitely an area that has challenged me and I think what helped me the most was meeting successful women, gaining confidence when interacting and networking and most of all, going through some very uncomfortable personal growth exercises. They can be less than pleasant at the time but they are so worth it.

I still have a long way to go with personal growth and I think it always a continuous exercise for all of us. I am also really lucky to have my partner, Rafael and the support that he and my mum give me is invaluable. They aren’t involved with my businesses so they can’t act like colleagues who are doing the same ‘job’ but they still give me all the external support and encouragement that I need.

The rest has to come from within and I think that’s one of the biggest lessons I have learnt so far is that to be successful you have to work on yourself and your personal growth. I really believe this to be true and I have met so many incredible and successful female entrepreneurs over the last two years who all share that one commonality, they all believe that personal growth is key and that it helped growth their businesses.

I would want the world to know that, even if it takes time, you can always find your passion or your passion will always find you. It is important to work hard but you don’t have to work yourself to the ground to have the work life balance that you desire. I have experienced judgement from people, even my some of my own family members, who struggle to be open minded to the possibilities in life when it comes to making a living.

The veterinary profession is especially behind the times on this one and it can be difficult to manage a good work life balance in professions which have historically created a culture where you if you don’t burn yourself out for the job then you aren’t working to the best of your ability and you won’t be successful. I think the world is changing and I truly believe that with a little compromise, understanding and creativity, we can all live the life that makes us the most fulfilled versions of ourselves without sacrificing passion, value, commitment or quality. I have always liked the phrase- ‘Work smarter, not harder’ and I really believe in this concept and I use it everyday to achieve what I truly want out of my businesses.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Absolutely! The first person to shout out is Henriette Danel who was my first Pinterest client and who has been a wonderful friend and mentor and who even recommended me for this article.

Secondly I would like to thank my amazing partner Rafael, for being my motivation and for making me so happy. He encourages me and supports me and without him I wouldn’t be where I am today with my businesses.

Third, is Nick Utting who provided the photos of me, for which I am so grateful as I would have never been able to have such quality and natural photos without him. I hate having my photo taken but he made it fun and and easy, so thank you Nick.

Last but not least, I want to thank my mum, Lucinda, for always supporting me and for always celebrating all my achievements, even if I forget to praise myself sometimes, she is always there to remind me how important it is to recognise all achievements big and small. She is also an amazing potter who is embarking on her own entrepreneurial journey right now and who’s wonderful pottery is actually featured in my photos in this article, in form of the very stylish mug I am holding. She will have website and socials up and running very soon, so keep an eye out for Little Meadow Potteries from Jersey, Channel Islands.

Website: www.pinittowinit.co.uk

Linkedin: Emilie Donaldson

Facebook: Emilie Donaldson Cat Behaviourist

Image Credits
Nick Utting